2023 County Fair Updates
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September 2, 2023Since 1974, the Nativity County Fair has been a tradition and one of the highlights of the year for Nativity of Our Lord parishioners, school students, families, neighbors, and residents of the Mac-Groveland and Highland Park communities.
Each September, more than 800 volunteers come together to put on the three-day event that includes carnival rides, children’s games, family-friendly entertainment, fair food, BINGO, a beer tent and more.
Attendance is estimated at around 4,000 attendees over the three-day event. It is the biggest, brightest event of the year and a weekend that everyone talks about!
This year we are excited to celebrate Nativity School’s 100th year and welcome Father Tollefson. We hope you experience and enjoy the collective imaginations at work that makes the 49th Nativity County Fair so special!
Comments or Questions?
Please contact the 2023 Fair Chairs at ncfchairs@gmail.com
Shawn & Suzi Hansen | Scott & Theresa HennisDodgeball
You can’t dodge a good time! The Nativity Men’s Club sponsors an annual dodgeball event in the gym during the County Fair. Kids can buy a wristband for just $5 and play all weekend. HELP NEEDED! Grab a friend and sign up for a short easy shift. Sign up your high school kids to help, too! Collect money, hand out wristbands, and referee the games with a live whistle. Sign up at nativitycountyfair.org or contact Darcy at dhtinnes@gmail.com with questions.
Major Foods
Join the fun with Major Foods at the fair! Major Foods is still in need of volunteers to help with corn roasting and grilling. They also still have a need for booth attendants to take payments, serve food, or help with clean up. As a volunteer, you’ll cook or serve many of our famous offerings! Be a grill master making burgers and brats, or serve our pulled pork and roast beef sandwiches, along with roasted corn on the cob. Sign up at www.nativitycountyfair.org or contact your Major Foods chairs with questions.
County Fair Merchandise
The vibrant and colorful Nativity County Fair merchandise, with new items, will be available on-site starting Saturday, August 19.
Shirts, hoodies, hats, and more can be purchased with a credit card or check. And, new this year…pre-order ride tickets!
Sales dates:- After select Masses on Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20
- Back To School Night | Tuesday, August 22
- Coffee with Kinders | Thursday, August 31
- Nativity County Fair weekend | Friday, September 15 – Sunday, September 17
And don’t forget to pick up a free sign during our sales events!
Baking Contest and Bake Sale
Calling all Nativity Bakers! Support the Nativity County Fair by donating baked goods to the Nativity Bakery. Drop off your delicious donations in the Nativity Gymnasium on Friday, September 15 between 4:00 – 6:00 pm or on Saturday, September 16 between 9:00 am – 11:00 am. Do you have an especially mouthwatering recipe?
Enter the annual Nativity County Fair baking contest to win cool prizes and bragging rights! Entries should be submitted at the same time as donations. See you at the fair!
Nativity Bakery Chairs
Katie & Matt Olson | (612) 490-1058 | kvolson@gmail.com
Games for Young and OldThere's fun for the whole family at the Cherry Tree and Children’s Games on the playground! We have your favorite games including Fish Pond, Can Can, Bean Bag Toss, Lollipop Tree, and Dip the Duck!
Kids, tweens, adults, and all can shine at the new and improved games on Lucky Lane where there is something for everyone! Showcase your Bottle Flip skills to win prizes, and don't forget to bring along plenty of quarters for chances to win at the popular quarter toss game.
Guess your speed and hurl a baseball with Pitcher Perfect. The Wheel of Redemption offers chances to win jumbo prizes. Fair favorites such as Perfect Putts, Skill Roll, Plinko and Off to the Races are all returning. All this and more - don't miss it!
You’re sure to be a winner at the Nativity County Fair!
Children's Games & Cherry Tree Chairs
Danielle & Pat Schneeman | patrickschneeman@gmail.com
Lucky Lanes Chairs
Ann & Tom Steingraeber | tom.steingraeber@gmail.com
Nick & Ingrid Strauss | nostrauss@gmail.comVolunteers Needed
Calling all parishioners! Grab your friends from the Nativity Choir, NCCW, or Nativity Men's Club. Coordinate a group from your child's grade or Scout troop. The NCF needs you!
Volunteering is more fun when you do it with friends. Find your crew, choose your event and time, and start filling those slots! Please volunteer at any time that works for you.
Contact the NCF Volunteer Captains at volunteeringncf@gmail.com if you have any questions. Thank you!Volunteer Chairs
Ellie & David Patterson | (651) 343-1215 | floodellie@gmail.com
Bingo Prizes Needed
Bingo is a time-honored tradition at Nativity County Fair, and we are calling all donors and fans to support our event with some gracious gifts needed to make this Bingo year a success!
We are asking for gift cards in the amount of $5, $10, and $25 from any of your favorite places to dine or shop.
All donations can be left at the Parish office or Nativity School office. Please be sure to address the envelope with: "Attn: Bingo Committee" and include your name and contact information.
Additionally, we are raising funds for three Adult Coverall Prizes valued at $100-$150 and two Kids Coverall Prizes valued at $50-$75. These generous donors will be announced over the fair and on the big screen as the coverall round begins. For Coverall donations, please reach out to BingoCommitteeNativity@gmail.com.
Thank you for supporting Nativity County Fair & The Bingo/Twinkie Walk!
Bingo Chairs
Carly Willis-Schmaltz & Robert Schmaltz | (323) 459-1459 | carlyewillis@gmail.com
Nathan & Anna Newman | (651) 276-2491 | ajbnewman@outlook.com
Raffle
You must play to win! The Grand Prize is $5,000, or One Year of Free Tuition at Nativity of Our Lord School, plus more cash prizes.
Suggested donation for tickets is $5 each (although no purchase is necessary to win). Tickets will be mailed to parish households and also will be for sale at the Fair.
All Raffle tickets must be turned in to the Parish Office by Friday, September 15 or the Raffle Booth at the Fair by 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 16. Winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday, September 17 at 10:30 AM Mass.
Your presence is not required to win. Good luck!
Raffle Chairs
Joe & Veronica Kelly | (952) 201-4755 | veronicajkelly@gmail.comRun to the Fair
Join in the fun! Run or walk with family and friends on Saturday, September 16.
Pre-register at www.nativitycountyfair.org, or day-of registration is available the morning of the run between 10:45 and 11:00 AM on the plaza. All registrants will be entered into a raffle for a GRAND PRIZE.
Please note, the order of the races has changed this year:- One-Mile Run (for grades 4-8) starts at 11:05 AM
- Half-Mile Run (for Kinders-3rd grade) starts at 11:20 AM
- Preschool Run starts at 11:40 AM
- Betz & Eric Petersen | betzpetersen@gmail.com | (612) 398-9183
Talent Show
Bring your talents to the Nativity County Fair Talent Show on Saturday, September 16!
One of the premier and most popular main stage events, the NCF Talent Show is open to all children of Nativity Parish and School. It provides singers, dancers, musicians, and creative acts of all kinds the opportunity to share our kids’ unique and awesome talents.
Stay tuned for further audition day details.
Talent Show Chairs:- Megan Kueffler | MeganRyanKuefler@gmail.com | (651) 331-0178
- Tara Muecke | tamuecke@gmail.com
Collectible Corner
Decluttering? Round up your household items in good, clean condition for this year’s Collectible Corner and save them for Fair Week.
Home décor, table linens, Christmas and holiday décor, housewares, jewelry and antiques, toys and books are all good sellers. We are not able to take clothing, electronics, furniture, appliances, stuffed animals, or Christmas trees.
Items may be dropped off at the school office during Fair Week in September.
Questions? Contact our chairs (below).
Collectible Corner Chairs- Laurie Murphy | lauriemurphy169@gmail.com | (612) 210-3818
- Louise Roth | lsroth@iphouse.com | (651) 699-9137
County Fair Sponsorship OpportunitiesPlease considering sponsoring the Nativity County Fair this year, scheduled for Sept. 15-17. Contact the Nativity County Fair Sponsorship Chairs at ncfsponsorship@gmail.com or call Patrick Martin at (651) 295-8591 for more information.
